Tag Archive for: #wizsnews

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The Local Skinny! Vance County Commissioners Meet

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Dan Brummitt is the newly elected chair of the Vance County Board of Commissioners. The District 4 representative was selected in a 5-2 vote during the Dec. 4 regular monthly meeting.

Leo Kelly was elected vice chair in a 4-3 vote.

Brummitt thanked outgoing chairperson Yolanda Feimster for her time as chair, saying it’s been a “very trying year,” mentioning the search for a new county manager as one of the challenges on the county’s plate. “Thank you for your leadership through this process,” Brummitt continued.

The commissioners got an update on the two instances of elevated lead reported to the county by the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality.

The samples were taken from residential taps as part of a routine lead service inventory. The next step, most likely, is to take samples from the water system. The county now is waiting to hear back from the state about what will occur next.

In her report, County Manager Renee Perry asked commissioners to consider allowing the fire department to purchase personal protective equipment that will most likely be needed before preliminary results of the fire study are released in early 2024.

In her first few weeks as county manager, Perry said she has been meeting with various department heads within the county government. The budget that was approved in June included a freeze on capital expenditures, and Perry asked the commissioners to allow the fire department to purchase the PPE.

Brummitt, who also chairs the Public Safety Committee, said this request should be reviewed by the Public Safety Committee before a decision is made. The next meeting of Public Safety Committee is Dec. 20.

Brummitt told Perry that the committee had asked fire officials for a complete inventory of equipment, with expiration dates noted.

As part of the ongoing employee engagement efforts, County Finance Director Katherine Bigelow recognized Kathy Hope, who has worked in the finance department since July 2021, when Bigelow said “we stole her” from the Department of Social Services. Hope began working with DSS in December 2006 as a Medicaid caseworker.

Bigelow said Hope is a “truly exceptional” employee who doesn’t merely complete her work, but she elevates her work to a higher level. Her innovative thinking, unwavering dedication and positivity make her a valuable member of the county’s team.

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TownTalk: Amedisys Seeks Volunteers For Hospice

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COVID-19 restrictions affected just about every aspect of society, including the volunteer pool at Amedisys, a home health and hospice care agency that provides help to patients in hospice and respite care for their caregivers.

“Before COVID, I had volunteers,” said Roberta Freeman, regional volunteer coordinator for Amedisys, which serves the four-county area. Freeman was a guest on TownTalk with WIZS co-hosts Bill Harris and Steve Lewis.

Freeman said she is working to build back the volunteer program and shared details about how people can become involved.

Some of the attributes of an ideal volunteer fall under the category of soft skills, including being compassionate and having a heart for those who are in end-of-life care. Amedisys kicked off a holiday campaign to recruit volunteers called “Hope for the Holidays.” Freeman said it is her hope that people will give the gift of time to serve as a volunteer.

Direct-patient volunteering involves being matched with a patient or caregiver and then working out a schedule for regular visits, which could tasks such as running errands, light housework, caring for lawns or gardens, or even picking up prepaid grocery orders.

Anyone 16 or older can apply to volunteer, but individuals under the age of 18 aren’t allowed to visit homes unsupervised. There are plenty of administrative type jobs, too, including general office work, maintaining social media and representing Amedisys at community events.

Want to learn more? Contact Freeman at 225.412.7759 or email her at

Roberta.freeman@amedisys.com.

 

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Cooperative Extension With Jamon Glover: Your Gift Matters

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Listen live at 100.1 FM / 1450 AM / or on the live stream at WIZS.com at 11:50 a.m. Mon, Tues & Thurs.

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Dabney Drive

TownTalk: Dabney Drive NC DOT Project

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All signs point to growth for the city of Henderson in the not-too-distant future. Whether you’re talking new subdivisions or urban revitalization, bringing back passenger rail service or finally widening a major congested artery through a heavily commercial district, Henderson is getting ready for change.

Change is considered a necessary evil by some, a vital component for progress by others. Either way, most would agree that change is inevitable.

Drivers who make their way along Dabney Drive have long experienced backups and congestion, and the N.C. Department of Transportation has had a widening project on its State Transportation Improvement Plan for a while, but Henderson City Manager Terrell Blackmon said the project could see some activity soon.

Funding is in place for the project based on the current 2024-2033 STIP, Blackmon told WIZS News Tuesday via email.

The plan originally called for portions of Dabney Drive to become a divided highway, with plans for a “peanut” shaped roundabout at the intersection with South Garnett Street down to the Dorsey Road/Oxford Road area.

Blackmon said city leaders met with DOT officials on Nov. 2 to discuss the $56.7 million project, which will commence in January or February 2024 with a public meeting. If all goes according to the timeline, an environmental document would be ready by September of 2024, followed by right-of-way acquisition, with construction underway in 2028.

“Plans remain very similar to what was originally proposed,” Blackmon stated.  The concept includes upgrading the existing Dabney Drive for eastbound traffic and use the existing Corbitt Road/former railroad corridor for westbound traffic, he added.

“Dabney Drive is a critical artery for the city of Henderson,” Blackmon told community leaders in July 2022 during his “State of the City” address. “That widening project needs to happen as soon as possible.”

View the STIP plan here and scroll down to page 59 for Dabney Drive project details.

Ten years sounds like a long time, but when you’re talking about completing major projects like the Dabney Drive expansion and creating a downtown train station for commuter and passenger rail, a decade can go by quickly.

In light of Sen. Thom Tillis’s announcement Tuesday of $1 billion being earmarked for the the S-Line corridor that will ultimately bring a stop in Henderson, the opportunity for even more downtown development and growth is almost certain.

City leaders are planning next steps for the location of a downtown train station that could serve as a springboard for Henderson to be a destination for train travelers to dine, see a show and enjoy other downtown amenities that haven’t even been thought of yet.

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Home And Garden Show

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On the Home and Garden Show with Vance Co. Cooperative Ext.

  • Remove dead plant debris from the landscape and garden. This will help prevent diseases from overwintering and being a problem next year.
  • Except for perennial flowers, which can support beneficial insects.
  • Check Christmas tree water reservoirs daily
  • Visit public gardens over the winter.
  • Keep poinsettia looking good during the holidays and place them in bright light but not direct sunlight. Avoid cold drafts,heat vents. Don’t over water.
  • Continue planting trees and shrubs.
  • Soil samples are now In peak season they are $4 per sample.
  • Continue planting pansies.
  • Start ordering your seed catalogs or go online to seed company websites.

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TownTalk: Christmas At SaddleRock Farm

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SaddleRock Farm will host a winter festival on Saturday, Dec. 9 and invites families to come out to enjoy horseback rides, hay rides, games and more, all while celebrating The Reason for the Season.

Emily Parker was a guest on Tuesday’s TownTalk to provide details of the event and all the farm activities as part of WIZS’s Business Spotlight series.

The winter festival will be from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $8, and children under 3 are free, Parker said. “The Christmas festival offers fun things to do with the family,” she said.

“We decided on a low price…to attract more people,” she said. “If we get more people, we can tell more people about Jesus,” Parker added.

“We wanted to offer our farm as a place for people to come and hang out” during the holiday season, Parker said. There will be Christmas crafts for the little ones, and Santa himself will be there for anyone who’d like to get a photo. Parker said the farm goats will even be dressed in ugly Christmas sweaters!

“We will have a nativity scene and a story of the birth of Jesus,” Parker said.

SaddleRock Farm is located at 1786 Weldons Mill Rd. in Henderson.

To learn more about other events at the farm, including planning for a springtime field trip, visit http://www.saddlerockfarm.us/.

 

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TownTalk: ‘Tis The Season For Scams

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With Christmas just a few weeks away, folks are getting into that hustle-and-bustle mode as they try to take care of all the things that make the holidays special – including choosing the perfect gifts for family and friends.

There’s always more to do than time to do it, and an attorney for the Federal Trade Commission has some advice for anyone who feels frazzled and pushed for time: Give yourself time to know who you’re dealing with, whether you’re shopping online or taking a call from someone who claims to be a family member in need.

Ken Abbe, and FTC attorney in the Western Region of the U.S., was a guest on Tuesday’s segment of TownTalk.

“Everybody’s busy getting things done,” Abbe said, which makes this time of year prime time for scammers.

As Abbe pointed out, this is the time of year that people want to be as generous as possible – “it’s the perfect environment to get you – when you’re vulnerable,” Abbe said.

Abbe said it’s important for online shoppers to use a credit card or other type of payment that can be reversed or disputed if a suspicious or unauthorized payment is made. He does not recommend using debit cards, gift cards or wire transfers because, once spent, “that money is probably gone forever. Avoid things you can’t reverse to make a payment.”

It’s not just bogus online commerce sites that people fall for, Abbe said.

Chances are you know someone who’s gotten “that” phone call: a grandchild or family member who’s been in a car crash, or been arrested, or has fallen ill and needs money to get out of the situation.

“There are always things to do to make sure the person is (really) who you’re talking to,” Abbe said. “Scammers are clever,” he added and can quickly dupe unsuspecting victims into forking over lots of money.

Abbe encourages individuals to visit www.ftc.gov to learn about scammers and to file complaints.

“We collect complaints from all over the country from people who have been victims of scams. They are our eyes and ears,” Abbe said. “We can’t stop companies from ripping people off if we don’t know about it.”

And while there are very sophisticated schemes that operate online and take advantage of vulnerable, well-meaning individuals, there’s one time-tested adage to keep in mind: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

 

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The Local Skinny! Local Filing Period Now Open

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The filing period is now open for the 2024 elections. Vance County voters will elect four members of the county commissioners and four members of the board of education.

So far, neither incumbents nor challengers have filed. The filing period opened Monday, Dec. 4 at 12 noon and will close on Friday, Dec. 15 at 12 noon, according to Vance County Board of Elections Director Jennifer Cocklin.

County commissioners in districts 1,2,5 and 6 will be elected. Carolyn Faines holds the District 1 seat, Archie Taylor holds the District 2 seat, Leo Kelly is in District 5 and Yolanda Feimster is the District 6 commissioner.

Kelly filed on Tuesday, Dec. 5 for the District 5 seat.

Candidates for county commissioner will pay a $138.59 filing fee, payable by check, and must present a valid photo ID, live in the district they wish to file for and be 21 years old by Election Day. Primary Elections will be held on March 5 and the general election is slated for Nov, 5, 2024.

Candidates for school board will pay a $72 filing fee. Seats in Districts 1,3,4 and 5 will be up for election.

Cocklin clarified that any filing fee more than $50 must be paid by check.

Currently, Gloria White represents District 1, Dorothy Gooch represents District 3, Ed Wilson represents District 4 and Linda Cobb represents District 5.

Additional information can be found on the Vance County Board of Elections website:  https://www.vancecounty.org/departments/board-of-elections/upcoming-candidate-filing-information/.

 

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